Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..

Different Lineup, Same Result

A different day, a different lineup, but the same result. After two days of non-stop rain it cleared up just in time for the match. And with only two days rest since their midweek defeat of the LA Galaxy the Sounders rolled out a new starting eleven. Making his first MLS start was goalkeeper Bryan Meredith in for the injured Michael Gspurning. Alex Caskey started on the left wing for Alvaro Fernandez. The rookie Andy Rose got the start, allowing Brad Evans a bit of rest. And Marc Burch got the start at left back in place of Leo Gonzales.

Meredith looked good in goal, but in all honesty he wasn’t tested much by a Union side that only took 6 shots on goal. Alex Caskey played well again, providing a lot of hustle on and off the ball. One thing you can say about Caskey is that he’s not afraid to take a shot from distance when given the opportunity. However he’s probably still thinking about that close range whiff he had in the 80th minute. The big rookie midfielder Andy Rose looked like a rookie making his first start. Overly anxious to make his mark he made a couple of bad tackles, one of which earned him a yellow card. After narrowly escaping a second booking for a late tackle on Feddy Adu, Rose seemed to settle down and played a bit smarter. Even with a few rookies in the starting lineup the Sounders passing and possession was solid. When they did lose the ball they hustled to win it right back. Mauro Rosales started his third game in eight days, but looked sharper than ever. The Union defense seemed to have no answer for stopping Rosales on the wing. And Fredy Montero had another very good game with some very composed passing under pressure. Again he was unlucky on a nice header stopped by the Union keeper, and a beautiful chip shot over the defenders late in the game that was a sure goal had it not nicked the crossbar.

Eddie Johnson started the game on the bench but came on in the 61st minute for Andy Rose. As soon as he stepped onto the pitch Johnson was involved in the offensive attack. His first touch was to knock down a throw in which he laid off to Montero, who then made a perfect pass to Rosales who pick up the ball on the run and calmly beat the keeper for his first goal of the season. The one goal was all it took to earn another three points at home.

So here they are, the 2012 Seattle Sounders, having played 8 games so far, winners of 6, with 1 loss and 1 draw, the best start in their four years in MLS. They’ve scored 11 goals, and only given up 3. They have a league leading 5 shutouts. Fredy Montero is playing his most well rounded soccer since he joined the Sounders. They have two players in Rosales and Johnson who seem to make everyone around them better when they’re on the pitch. What will it take to stop the Sounders in 2012? I’m not sure, but I bet it’s a question being asked by every team left on the schedule. It’s been awfully fun to watch this team each successive season as they’ve steadily improved. They developed players like Fredy Montero, David Estrada, Alvaro Fernandez and Osvaldo Alonso. And they’ve brought in talent like Mauro Rosales, Eddie Johnson, and Adam Johannson to ensure that they have depth at every position. The Sounders are a team built to succeed this year and into the future. Credit to the front office, the players, and the fans, for showing how professional soccer can and should be done here in this country. It’s been a true pleasure being a fan of the Sounders, because even when they’ve had set backs, remember the 4-0 whooping by LA, or the playoff collapse in Salt Lake, it never seemed like anything more than temporary. There’s been a quiet confidence that the owners, the coach, and the players know what they’re doing, and that ultimate success was on the way. It’s too early to say if this is the year, but it’s certainly starting to look that way.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..

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Simon MoyseBorn in London, Simon joined the Emerald City Supporters after he moved to Snohomish in 2004. He watches games with his son Elliott.